In our work to protect the Nova Scotia workforce from the impact of injury, health services providers are a key partner.
WCB has contracts in place across the province for all health care services that may be needed following workplace injury, including physiotherapy and chiropractic care.
When workplace injury happens, these professionals are often the first to provide care for that worker, to assess the injury, set the path to safely return to work and ultimately to recover from the injury.
It’s a big responsibility, which comes with clear expectations.
Each health services provider contract with WCB Nova Scotia, sets expectations around timeliness, treatment, and expected outcomes. It’s the WCB’s responsibility to ensure those contracts are appropriately managed, and providing value to the employers and workers the organization serves.
WCB has recently begun clarifying and better enforcing existing contracts with health services providers to better protect the workforce and improve return-to-work outcomes.
It’s consistent with the findings of the recent system review, which called for increased accountability across the system, including regular review of the performance of health services providers.
In rare cases, we may need to end a relationship with a health services provider. This can occur for a number of reasons. While we won’t discuss those reasons publicly – they are contractual matters with these providers – that difficult decision is always made in the best interest of the system as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would the WCB de-list a health services provider?
The difficult decision to de-list a health services provider may be made for a number of reasons. Generally speaking, this decision would be made when a provider is not meeting service expectations, or, complying with the terms of their agreement with us. When this difficult decision is made, it’s done in the best interest of the system as a whole, including not only workers and their families, but also employers who fund the system.
Respecting those business relationships, we will not discuss the details of these decisions publicly.
What is the process for delisting a provider?
A health services provider works closely with WCB team members on a regular basis. Concerns about service delivery and outcomes would be made clear through that relationship. In the rare case that the WCB decides to terminate an agreement, that decision is communicated with appropriate notice under the terms of the contract.
How do you ensure care continues for workers when a service provider is delisted?
WCB Nova Scotia is committed to protecting workers from the impact of workplace injury. That includes ensuring they receive appropriate, safe, and best-practice care from health services providers.
We have strong relationships with many health services providers in all parts of the province. In the rare instances when a service provider is de-listed, we always provide workers impacted with options for other providers to continue their care, where that is needed.
More info: WCB Nova Scotia